At a meeting in January 1964, a group of about 20 residents voted to start an adult library in a space in the Killingworth Elementary School loaned by the Board of Education. It was to be an organization separate from the school library with its own by-laws, policies, and fund raising projects.
In September 1965, the library moved into 2 upstairs rooms and hall of the newly purchased Town office building. Shelves were built only around the perimeter as the structure would not hold the weight of the books in the middle of the rooms. The collection now contained about 2,600 books.
In September 1972 the growing Library moved to the building at the Killingworth circle that had at one time housed the Killingworth Fire Department and had been the Central District School previous to that. Extensive renovations were made. Volunteers from organizations in town helped put the books in labeled boxes, move them out second floor windows to the town’s pay-loader, or down the steep stairs to waiting trucks. Metal shelving donated by the Madison Library were installed. The Lion’s Club donated a desk and additional bookcases were built.
In 1992, the town decided to buy the vacant, former CBT bank building on Rt. 81. The Killingworth Library Assn. contributed $35,000. towards the purchase.
Groundbreaking took place on November 1994 and construction began. The doors to the new library opened December 1, 1995 while finishing details were being completed. The formal dedication of the Killingworth Library took place April 14, 1996 almost exactly 32 years after the Library originally opened. Many state dignitaries as well as local supporters attended the ribbon cutting ceremonies.
